Laufey’s sophomore album, Bewitched, released in 2023, features the single “Promise,” a song exploring the difficulty of severing ties with a past relationship. The track, co-written with Dan Wilson, has resonated with listeners, achieving gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeding 500,000 digital downloads in the United States.
“Promise” is described as a melancholic ballad, blending jazz-pop elements with instrumentation including piano, harp, and acoustic guitar. The song’s lyrical content centers on the internal conflict experienced when attempting to move on from someone, despite a conscious decision to do so. It details the repeated breaking of a self-imposed promise to disconnect, and the frustration of being unable to fully let move. Laufey has described the song as dealing with the “anguish of breaking that promise repeatedly.”
The song received radio airplay on BBC Radio 2 and was performed live during Laufey’s Bewitched: The Goddess Tour and A Matter of Time Tour. Earlier performances included appearances on KEXP and a Tiny Desk Show. “Promise” stands as the sole song on Bewitched co-written by Laufey with Dan Wilson.
Laufey, an Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter, has gained recognition for her jazz-influenced music. “Promise” serves as the second single from Bewitched, following the album’s release.
